Eurostar - Mind the gap

[Old Yard Dog]

While assisting my dear lady off one of the rear carriages of a new Eurostar set at St Pancras last week, I was horrified at how big the gap was between the last step and the platform edge. It was several inches wide and a child or small adult, particularly if elderly or partially sighted, could easily fall down the gap.

Surely the train builders should have been able to design a step configuration which would allow passengers to alight at Eurostar's busiest station in greater safety?

 

[duesselmartin]

Had the same situation on a German IC last night. Amazing that in this day and age we cannot agree on platform heights and build trains accordingly.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

Had the same situation on a German IC last night. Amazing that in this day and age we cannot agree on platform heights and build trains accordingly.

It wasn't the height of the platform that was the problem - it was the gap horizontally between the carriage and the platform. I think the far end of the platform where we were must have had a slight curve in it. What is needed is a step which protrudes out from the carriage towards the platform when the door is opened. Easier to design of course if the platform heights are all the same.

 

[swt class 450]

While assisting my dear lady off one of the rear carriages of a new Eurostar set at St Pancras last week, I was horrified at how big the gap was between the last step and the platform edge. It was several inches wide and a child or small adult, particularly if elderly or partially sighted, could easily fall down the gap.

Surely the train builders should have been able to design a step configuration which would allow passengers to alight at Eurostar's busiest station in greater safety?

Were the new 374s built to UK loading gauge? If so could the reason for the larger gap be that the platforms have been built to Mainland Europe loading gauge?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Were the new 374s built to UK loading gauge? If so could the reason for the larger gap be that the platforms have been built to Mainland Europe loading gauge?

The 374s are the larger ones; the 373s are built to UK loading gauge. I wonder if this might have been one of the refurbished 373s?

 

[Bletchleyite]

The 374s are the larger ones; the 373s are built to UK loading gauge. I wonder if this might have been one of the refurbished 373s?

373s have folding steps for UIC gauge platforms. But I *think* the bottom step may be lower than the St P platform level.

 

[Groningen]

A picture would be nice. On Seat61 i see this picture. Nothing wrong i would say or is this not the train?

With German trains never had problems. Only in Basel (and other places) are platforms low.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

A picture would be nice. On Seat61 i see this picture. Nothing wrong i would say or is this not the train?

Don't think so. We were on one of the new trains. The one in the picture looks like one of the old ones.

 

[Joe Paxton]

Don't think so. We were on one of the new trains. The one in the picture looks like one of the old ones.

FWIW, the refurbished old trains carry the same livery as the new ones (example).

 

[Old Yard Dog]

FWIW, the refurbished old trains carry the same livery as the new ones (example).

Au contraire I think Joe. Your example of a new train seems to be predominantly blue while the old train above is predominantly white. We travelled on a blue train.

 

[edwin_m]

The refurbished 373s (old trains) are mainly blue like the new (374) trains. Unrefurbished 373s are white. So blue could have been either type.

The 374s are based on a German design so may be more suited to the German platform height, which is a bit higher than the French one which we also use at St Pancras. They obviously couldn't agree so the European specification for high speed lines includes two alternative platform heights!

 

[Joe Paxton]

Au contraire I think Joe. Your example of a new train seems to be predominantly blue while the old train above is predominantly white. We travelled on a blue train.

The photo I linked to was of an old train (373) carrying the new livery, which is the same livery as on the new trains (374s).

The 373s (old trains) that carry the new livery have all been refurbished (I think).

 

[Groningen]

Most pictures i see of Eurostar trains are from the front (or back). Most do not show the entry for passengers.

 

[Mag_seven]

Had the same situation on a German IC last night. Amazing that in this day and age we cannot agree on platform heights and build trains accordingly.

And do you think BREXIT will make such agreements more likely?

 

[MarcVD]

The big difficulty is to cope with history. You cannot change the height of thousands of platforms overnight.

Envoyé de mon GT-I9505 en utilisant Tapatalk

 

[Groningen]

The Eurostar has mainly 4 stations: London, Lille, Paris and Brussel. At least in those cities the platforms and/or trains should fit each other. And with that picture i posted there is no gap to be found.

 

[duesselmartin]

The big difficulty is to cope with history. You cannot change the height of thousands of platforms overnight.

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So much refurbishment and new building took place in the past 25 years. Yet noch standarisation even within some countries.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

The Eurostar has mainly 4 stations: London, Lille, Paris and Brussel. At least in those cities the platforms and/or trains should fit each other. And with that picture i posted there is no gap to be found.

The train is parked on a straight stretch of platform in your picture Groningen.

The outer reaches of the platforms at St Pancras are curved which is why there is a gap.

 

[30907]

The train is parked on a straight stretch of platform in your picture Groningen.

The outer reaches of the platforms at St Pancras are curved which is why there is a gap.

Not any more - that plan is pre-rebuilding, and a quick look at Google maps shows the platforms as dead straight.

 

[johnnychips]

The outer reaches of the platforms at St Pancras are curved which is why there is a gap.

I thought that Brussel Zuid Platform 1 was on an outward curve, where I certainly perceived quite a big gap when I travelled the other week. On the other hand, on Platform 2, you board on an inner curve, where the gap would be less.

However, I might be wrong after two Leffe Blondes at the time

 

[Bletchleyite]

Very little will beat Clapham Jn P17, where even as a 6 footer I find it awkward - kids look terrified. It's at least a foot in places.

I bet the accident rate there is low, though, because it's a really obvious risk. Not great for blind people though.

 

[jopsuk]

The train is parked on a straight stretch of platform in your picture Groningen.

The outer reaches of the platforms at St Pancras are curved which is why there is a gap.

they're dead straight

 

[Old Yard Dog]

they're dead straight

I'll bow to your superior knowledge gentlemen as my memory isn't what it was and it is unlikely I will be revisiting St Pancras for sometime now all my Frequent Traveller points have been exhausted. However ...

... if the platforms really are dead straight for the entire length of a Eurostar set, then there really is very little excuse for the wide gap between the carriage and the platform edge.

 

[D365]

I'll bow to your superior knowledge gentlemen as my memory isn't what it was and it is unlikely I will be revisiting St Pancras for sometime now all my Frequent Traveller points have been exhausted. However ...

... if the platforms really are dead straight for the entire length of a Eurostar set, then there really is very little excuse for the wide gap between the carriage and the platform edge.

The image you posted was dated 2003 after all

As mentioned above, the Class 373s are built to the smaller UK loading gauge.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The image you posted was dated 2003 after all

As mentioned above, the Class 373s are built to the smaller UK loading gauge.

But have a folding step for use at UIC platforms.

 

[33Hz]

I can only think the OP was on a 373 with a failed step. I've never noticed a gap big enough for a kid to fall through.

 

[30907]

I can only think the OP was on a 373 with a failed step. I've never noticed a gap big enough for a kid to fall through.

Maybe, but he says he was on one of the new sets.

 

[185]

Have to agree, I noticed this. The 374 step does leave a relatively biggish gap if I recall.

 

[allonsha]

I can attest from personal experience that the gap between train and platform at Gare du Nord can be significantly wide.

I took the Eurostar from London to Paris this Monday. Disembarking with my luggage I didn't notice the gap and my right leg dropped in there. Left leg buckled and after 4 hours at the ER - there's a hospital across the street from the station - it was determined to be broken/fractured. Lovely start to a vacation in France!

I don't understand why, at the very least, Eurostar doesn't make sure there is a conductor at each entry reminding passengers to mind the gap.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I don't understand why, at the very least, Eurostar doesn't make sure there is a conductor at each entry reminding passengers to mind the gap.

I hope you get well soon if you haven't already, but unless you have eyesight problems don't you look before taking a step? You'd fall down Clapham Jn P17 too. An announcement should not be required in what is obviously a dangerous situation.